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Fec~era~Priorities 2007 Natura~Resources <br />Water Resources Development Act <br />Request <br />Lane County area local governments urge reauthorization of the Water Resources <br />Development Act (WRDA). There are two elements of the Reauthorization of interest to us: <br />Inclusion of $15 million and authorization for studies and ecosystem restoration in the <br />Upper Willamette River Watershed Ecosystem Restoration Project, Oregon. <br />Raising the current caps on the continuing authority sections from $25 million to $75 <br />million annually. ,These caps impact both Sections 206 and 1135, which are popular <br />sources for funding locally desired projects of national significance, including such local <br />projects as Delta Ponds and the Springfield Mill Race. <br />Background <br />Upper Willamette Ecosvstem Restoration Authorization. This authorization for $15 million <br />would allow projects in the Corps of Engineers' Upper Willamette region, which includes the <br />upper Willamette watershed above Albany. In Lane County, that includes the Main Stem <br />Willamette, McKenzie, Long Tom, Middle Fork Willamette, and Coast Fork Willamette Rivers. <br />This authorization would help future studies and projects that may occur before completion or <br />as part of the two major General Investigation Studies now underway: (1) the Metropolitan <br />Waterways Restoration Study, and (2) the Willamette Floodplain Restoration Study. We <br />support continued funding for both of these General Investigation Studies that can provide <br />multiple benefits to the metropolitan region and central Lane County. <br />Continuing Authorities Caps. The current caps on these continuing authorities are not <br />allowing the Corps to continue with these projects that are very popular at the local level. <br />Recent limitations have caused problems at the local level due to unpredictability about the <br />future status and scheduling of projects. Also, the discontinuity of federal funding has <br />caused some local and other eligible funds to come under jeopardy due to delays in federal <br />project funding. <br />We have experience with both the Section 206 and Section 1135 programs. They have been <br />successful in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan region for the following reasons: <br />• They help address local waterway issues. <br />• They are carefully determined to be of Corps and National interest. <br />• They are evaluated and measured to determine economic, social, and environmental <br />benefits. <br />• They address multiple values-not just a single issue like flood protection. <br />• They require shared project funding-showing the strong commitment of local sponsor's <br />with a federal agency. <br />• The results are very popular with our citizens and property owners. <br />49 <br />